my
heart during these months that I have spent with you," Sir William
pleaded, his face paling as she did not answer, and a fear smiting him
that he might have been nourishing a delusion. "I have fancied that I have
seen the love-light dawning in your eyes--oh, do not tell me that I have
been deceiving myself. My darling, I will try to make your life very
bright if you will give yourself to me."

Virgie looked up now with a steady, unwavering glance into his eager eyes,
although her face was dyed with blushes.

"Mr. Heath," she faltered, "you know I cannot leave my father."

"Of course I know it," he returned, his face lighting "I do not ask it,
darling; I only ask that you will give yourself into my keeping, and then
we will devote ourselves to him as long as he lives. Oh, my dearest"--as
he saw an answering gleam in her eyes--"you do love me!"

"Yes, I love you," Virgie breathed, with a downcast but happy face; and
then she was gathered close to her lover's manly breast in a fond embrace.

"My love! my love! I would serve twice seven years, as Jacob did, in this
wild region for the sake of winning that coveted confession from your dear
lips. My mountain queen! and you will soon be my wife?"

But Virgie sat up suddenly at this and pushed him from her with gentle
force, a frightened look in her eyes. Oh, "what have I done? I am afraid I
have done wrong!" she cried.

"Wrong, dearest, in confessing that you love me!" Sir William whispered,
as he tried to draw her again into his arms.

"But you do not know--I have no right to tell you; no--no, I am afraid I
ought not to be your wife," she said, remembering, with a sense of shame
and misery, the stigma resting upon her name.

The young man regarded her anxiously for a moment; then he understood it
all.

"Virgie," he said, "you need not fear to promise all that I ask, for I
know what troubles you. I asked your father's sanction to my suit before I
came to you, and he told me all his sad story. But it need be no barrier
to our happiness. I told him so, and he gave you to me--providing I could
win you--with his blessing."

Virgie lifted her face, all radiant with a sweet new joy, a sense of
exultation in her heart.

"And you were willing----" she began, wondering at the great love that
could thus level what she had had feared would be an insurmountable
barrier.

"Willing, love, to make myself the happiest man on earth," he
interrupted, in a voice that actually